Match reaction v the orcs

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Originally Posted by ollie the optimist

surplas to requirements? yes our bench in recent weeks shows we can just kick out players like Arteta at the end of the season

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We can't stick Arteta up front, on the wing or in defence.....the areas where we are light so yes he is surplass to requirement....considering when we have everyone fit we have eight players vying for three positions in central midfield.

He's competing with Flamini for one position, that hardly makes him surplus.

When are Podolski and Ox coming back? We need them to have more options up top?

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Originally Posted by fakeyank

When are Podolski and Ox coming back? We need them to have more options up top?

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podolski could be back for napoli apparently. same with Santi.

Ox is out till christmas i think

What happened to Ox? :(

Did he tear ligaments? I remember him being stretched off in the Villa game..

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Originally Posted by ollie the optimist

podolski could be back for napoli apparently. same with Santi.

Ox is out till christmas i think

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I think Podolski and Oxlade were ruled out for a similar period of time (2-3 months), I don't expect to see them for at least another month.

Hope Cazorla does indeed make it back soon though.

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

He's competing with Flamini for one position, that hardly makes him surplus.

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Oh you mean the position that he doesn't naturally play in and has just been shoe-horned into even though he's not particularly that good at it and is far more of an offensive midfielder. So yes he is surplus to requirements, but it hardly matters because like i say he will be here for the rest of the season at least....and if we get rid of Rosicky and Diaby as well like we should we can perhaps bring in another defensive minded midfielder for the cover for Flamini that you think we need.


So from next season we would have Ramsey (who i am still far from convinced about), Wilshere (same as with Ramsey), Ozil, Cazorla, Flamini and someone else.

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

I think Podolski and Oxlade were ruled out for a similar period of time (2-3 months), I don't expect to see them for at least another month.

Hope Cazorla does indeed make it back soon though.

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think it was the mirror (might have been the mail) who siad he was making good progress and napoli was a target. i think Podolski will be back by end of ocotber. perhaps the second round of COC if we get through would be a realistic target

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

Oh you mean the position that he doesn't naturally play in and has just been shoe-horned into even though he's not particularly that good at it and is far more of an offensive midfielder. So yes he is surplus to requirements, but it hardly matters because like i say he will be here for the rest of the season at least....and if we get rid of Rosicky and Diaby as well like we should we can perhaps bring in another defensive minded midfielder for the cover for Flamini that you think we need.


So from next season we would have Ramsey (who i am still far from convinced about), Wilshere (same as with Ramsey), Ozil, Cazorla, Flamini and someone else.

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get rid of arteta and rosicky? what are you on? both bloody good squad players, who can do a job. are professional, leaders on the pitch. getting rid of them would be stupid. even if they are just squad players, they are bloody good options

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

Oh you mean the position that he doesn't naturally play in and has just been shoe-horned into even though he's not particularly that good at it and is far more of an offensive midfielder. So yes he is surplus to requirements, but it hardly matters because like i say he will be here for the rest of the season at least....and if we get rid of Rosicky and Diaby as well like we should we can perhaps bring in another defensive minded midfielder for the cover for Flamini that you think we need.

So from next season we would have Ramsey (who i am still far from convinced about), Wilshere (same as with Ramsey), Ozil, Cazorla, Flamini and someone else.

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I'm not even Arteta's biggest fan, but I can say he's of vital use to our squad. He isn't a natural "DCM" if that's what you mean, but then you can say the same thing about Pirlo, Xavi and at a stretch Alonso. All of them are deep lying playmakers who have a defensive game based on interceptions. It's a different type of game to a physical imposing DCM like Gattuso, De Rossi or even Flamini.

His position is certainly in our midfield two though. If you are suggesting that his natural position is higher up the pitch, then you are very mistaken. When he first started making a name for himself over a decade ago, it was as a deep lying playmaker from Barcelona at Rangers. That was, is, and has always has been his "natural position" despite his creative exploits at Everton.

While he isn't a natural combative DCM, he's a good competition for Flamini and helps solidify our midfield. Perhaps not a starter, but a great squad player, whether it be for this season or the next. We currently have ONLY 4 players I am content with sitting in our double pivot - Ramsey, Flamini, Arteta and Jack. He's crucially important to our season.